Bane's flight caught Aaron by surprise. He had expected a real battle with Bane, who had only just recovered some of his power. Having absorbed [Strife] and ascended through his involvement in the domain of [Murder], Aaron's power had now reached the level of a [Quasi-Deity]. For a short time, he could hold his own against the newly resurrected Bane, whose grievous wounds had yet to heal.
But Bane fled. He fled without so much as looking back. The God of Tyranny did not even act like a proper villain. He said nothing, simply running for his life under the Golden Law Beast's threat, his perfectly sculpted, masculine body reduced to that of a beaten dog.
Aaron had overestimated Bane's dignity.
For Bane, resurrection had been hard enough, and regaining the power of a greater deity harder still.
The only thing he needed to do now was survive!
Only survival offered a future. Only survival offered a tomorrow. Only by surviving could he, Bane, one day reign supreme over the Realms.
Run. There was no shame in it.
Ultimately, the greater deity Bane escaped Aaron's pursuit. Faced with this outcome, Aaron could only sigh before charging toward the City of Strife instead.
Cyric still had two crowns.
Aaron would leave him with none!
With the portfolio of strife in his grasp and the light of the Golden Law illuminating the stars, Aaron charged toward the outer plane of the Endless Wilderness.
Little did Aaron know that his actions had profoundly shaken the gods of the Realms watching from the Pantheon.
The Pole Star Encampment, the Pantheon, where more than a hundred deities had gathered.
"Running was a wise choice," Oghma said with effortless composure, dressed in loose, flowing robes. "Only survival offers a tomorrow. I regret to inform every one